Support this Oct. 4 event

Charlotte Radiology Breast Center and the Charlotte Observer are joining forces on Oct. 4 to support breast cancer awareness, and you're invited to join in the fun.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Observer, 600 S. Tryon St., there will be food trucks, vendors, sports mascots plus free gift bags to the first 108 people. There's live entertainment from recording artist Nate Andrews and the band The Logic.

To really hit the point home about the importance of breast cancer education, the Observer's paper that day will be printed on pink paper.

From now through the day of the event, there's a really cute display of decorated bras in the Observer's lobby. To be honest, I thought it was going to be tacky but I really enjoyed the creativity behind the decorated bras. Some of them are works of art, others are clever or laugh-out-loud funny.

Here are photos of my two favorites (I picked two for obvious reasons!). The first one is even more pretty in person. The second one took me a moment to figure out (it has a "Hunger Games" inspired theme).

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Lindsay from Ace & TJ hosts fashion fundraiser

The Junior League of Charlotte just announced that radio personality Lindsay Gladden from the Ace & TJ Show will emcee the nonprofit's fourth annual "Lights! Camera! Fashion!" fundraiser on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at Belk at SouthPark mall. Also making an appearance is Tai Beauchamp of InStyle magazine. The event includes a silent auction (among the items are a week's stay at Litchfield Beach and US Open tickets), giveaways, food and drinks. 

All proceeds from ticket sales support the Junior League of Charlotte's mission of meeting the physical, dental and mental health needs of children ages 0-17 and their families in the Charlotte community. 

Lindsay didn't register on my radar until I saw photos of her from Ace & TJ's Second Chance Prom. Here's a photo of her with her on-air pals Ace & TJ at the fundraiser:

She stands out in a crowd because of her beauty, but she's also very accomplished.
According to a press release from the Junior League, Lindsay is a native of Concord, she majored in fashion design at East Carolina University and was on the school's dance team. After working in the corporate world for five years, she managed a spa and a boutique. She's been dancing with the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats for five years and is the newest member of Ace and TJ Show. 

Tickets are $50 each, or two for $90, and include entrance to the event, food and drinks and a $10 Belk gift card.  

VIP tickets are $95 each, or two for $170, and also include entrance to the event, food and drinks, and a VIP gift bag with a $20 Belk gift card. VIP ticket holders will also receive two Red Carpet Giveaway tickets, one ticket for the “Diamonds & Champagne” toast with a chance to win diamond earrings valued at more than $4,500, reserved seating for the fashion show, and a special VIP reception starting at 5 p.m. on October 13.

There are two different times for the runway show, so when ordering your tickets be sure to indicate which show you want to watch (one is at 6:30 p.m., the other is at 8 p.m.)

Details: www.jlcharlotte.org.

Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson

Pamela Fiori at the Mint Museum Uptown Nov. 7

During The Art of Fashion, a recent fundraiser for the Mint Museum, I talked with Leslie Culbertson, the incoming president of the Mint Museum Auxiliary. She told me all about the auxiliary's Fall EnrichMINT program featuring one of my favorite media legends, Pamela Fiori, an author and former editor of Town & Country magazine. Here's Fiori's photo:

On Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mint Uptown, Fiori will talk about philanthropy along with her books about St. Barths, Capri and Palm Beach. A special fashion exhibit will showcase clothes that you might see in those locales that attract the rich and well dressed.

Tickets to Fiori's talk are $110, $100 for members. Details:www.mintmuseumauxiliary.org.

Looking good at the Metropolitan

I was at the Metropolitan last night during its weekly METLIVE music on the Greenway concert series to take pictures of stylish people who caught my eye for the Observer Style section's monthly Street Scene feature, which will run in print and online Sept. 26. Until then, here are a few Vine video sneak peeks.

Model citizens

Doctors and lawyers can at times be on opposite sides of an issue, but often a common cause brings them together.
That will be the case on Oct. 1 when several physicians and attorneys from the Mecklenburg County Medical Society Women Physicians Section and Charlotte Women’s Bar will model clothes from Nordstrom as part of “Fighting for Women with Fashion” from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Foundation for the Carolinas, 220 N. Tryon St.

Proceeds go to Safe Alliance’s new Clyde and Ethel Dickson Domestic Violence Shelter. It hasn’t even been open a year, and this larger facility (it has 80 beds compared to 29 beds at the former shelter) is already operating at capacity.

Tickets are $75 through Sept. 24; $85 afterward. Details: 704-376-3688; www.safealliance.org/fighting-for-women-with-fashion.

Halloween costume ideas

The recent masquerade ball I attended was not only a fabulous party, it was filled with great costume ideas for the upcoming Halloween holiday.

For inspiration, check out the slideshow: www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/10/4303501/scene-heard-masquerade-ball.html

Also, here's a fun video that captures the party's fun atmosphere:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/videos?vcid=25158613&freewheel=90473&sitesection=charlotte

Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson

Power luncheon Sept. 19

This year’s Southern Women’s Show will be held at a new location, the Charlotte Convention Center uptown. When it opens on Sept. 19 for its four-day run, it will also host a separate event: the Women’s Inter-Cultural Exchange’s Multi-Cultural Conference.

Moira Quinn is emcee of the luncheon’s panel discussion that features Ann Caulkins of the Charlotte Observer, retired AT&T executive Patricia Diaz-Dennis and Debra Plousha Moore of Carolinas HealthCare System.

It’s from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; the $85 price includes one ticket to the Southern Women’s Show. Details: www.wi-ce.org.

Woof it up on Sept. 14

Animal lovers are invited to Woofstock, a groovy event that's a fundraiser for Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love and the Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue. It's from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 14 at Amos' South End, 1423 S. Tryon St. Guests will enjoy food, beverages, a silent auction and music.

There's also a chance to meet the pets available for adoption from the two rescue groups.

True to its hippie theme, the party's fun tagline is "Peace. Love. Drool."

Admission is $5.

Details: www.blueridgeboxerrescue.com; www.greatdanefriends.com.

Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson

Six updates from Seventeen magazine

I enjoy it when I get to write about fashion, so I guess that's why one of my co-workers left a copy of the September issue of Seventeen magazine on my desk. I loved the magazine when I was younger, but I haven't looked at a copy in ages. I started to recycle it, then I thought maybe just for fun I would read it.

I didn't think there would be anything in there for me to learn from, I just wanted to enjoy reading a fashion and beauty magazine that didn't have endless articles about fighting wrinkles.

One article did have some info in that I thought would be fun to pass along. I think it's style advice that anyone of any age can learn from.

The article gave six tips for quickly updating your personal style. One was incredibly stupid, in my opinion, but the rest were good reminders to think differently about how little things you do to tweak your style can make a big fashion impact. Here are the magazine's tips:

1. Wear your bracelets stacked on top of the sleeve of your outerwear. Mix colors and metals for "an ultra-cool vibe."

2. Knot a belt over your jacket instead of buttoning it up.

3. Take a classic long sleeve shirt and make it more trendy by throwing it over a graphic print tee and only buttoning the very top button on the shirt.

4. Rest a jacket on your shoulders for a less bulky, more interesting way to bundle up.

5. When you wear a hoodie, tie the strings in a feminine bow instead of letting them hang loose.

6. This is the stupid one. The magazine says that a chunky necklace updates a dress, but don't hide it behind your hair - tuck strands under the necklace to show it off. (Although I do believe that when you're under 25 you should really experiment with your clothes, makeup and accessories, this just doesn't look right. If it doesn't look good on the model in the story, then usually it's not going to look good on the average person.)

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Art of Fashion Sept. 12

Neiman Marcus and the Mint Museum are joining fashionable forces to present the Art of Fashion, a Sept. 12 fundraiser at the SouthPark mall store that benefits the Mint Museum.

Special guest is Hal Rubenstein, editor of InStyle magazine. It includes a fashion show of the biggest trends for fall and winter.

Neiman Marcus knows how to host an event, so expect to have a lot of fun while soaking in what's new and cutting edge. It includes a fashion show of the biggest trends for fall and winter. There will be music by DJ Sami, beverages and light hors d'oeuvres.

The event is from 6:30 to 10 p.m.; the fashion show is at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $50 and all proceeds benefit the Mint Museum.

Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson

Joan Zimmerman honored Sept. 26

The nonprofit Dress for Success Charlotte will celebrate the success of its clients at the Ultimate Power Lunch, a fundraiser presented by Wells Fargo from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 Seaboard St.

It includes "Faces of Dress for Success" client fashion show sponsored by Belk and the presentation of the Paradigm Award sponsored by L'Oreal Paris that will be given to Joan Zimmerman of Southern Shows, a founding co-chair of the Dress for Success Charlotte Community Advisors.

Tickets are $50 each. Details: 704-525-7706; www.dressforsuccess.org.